Kootenai and Moyie Rivers Watershed Advisory Group (WAG)

Watershed advisory groups (WAGs) are groups of interested citizens that provide local public input and guidance to DEQ during the development of water quality improvement plans or "Total Maximum Daily Loads" (TMDLs) for water bodies that fail to meet water quality standards. TMDLs are designed to reduce the levels of pollutants, such as bacteria and sediment, in impaired water bodies.

The Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative members served as the WAG for development of this TMDL. The Assessment of Water Quality in Kootenai River and Moyie River Subbasins (TMDL) was developed by DEQ, EPA, and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho in 2006. The document was submitted to public comment and approved by EPA in January 2007. Subsequent documentation on likely causes of impairment was issued in 2009.

Review Document

Blue Joe Creek Metals Analysis Memorandum

2009 Stressor Identifications

Stream Name	Assessment Unit	Likely Cause of Impairment
1st and 2nd order tributaries to Kootenai River between Shorty's Island and Canadian border	ID17010104PN001_02	Flow, habitat alteration, and possibly sediment
Grass Creek headwaters and tributaries	ID17010104PN003_02	Flow alteration, temperature, and sediment
Parker Creek lower section located in Kootenai River valley (Ag area)	ID17010104PN009_03	Habitat alteration and sediment
Trout Creek lower section located in Kootenai River valley (Ag area)	ID17010104PN010_03a	Habitat alteration and sediment
Ball Creek lower section located in Kootenai River valley (Ag area)	ID17010104PN011_02a	Habitat alteration and sediment
Dodge Creek from South Fork Dodge Creek to McArthur Lake	ID17010104PN024_03	Habitat alteration and sediment
Brown Creek from confluence with Twentymile Creek to Deep Creek	ID17010104PN027_03	Flow, habitat alteration, and sediment
Lower Cow Creek (Cow Creek near Bonners Ferry)	ID17010104PN030_03	Sediment, lack of flow, temperature
Boulder Creek	ID17010104PN033_03	Temperature (if condition exists)
Brush Creek	ID17010104PN039_02	Flow alteration and temperature
Meadow Creek	ID17010105PN012_02	Sediment, possibly temperature, fish barriers, and heavy metal toxicity

Department of
Environmental Quality

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